Johnny Depp: Life and Inspirations

Background

Johnny Depp was born June 9th, 1963 and grew up in Owensboro, Kentucky with his parents, brother and two sisters. The family was constantly on the move before settling in Miramar, Florida.

He has a mixed Creole heritage and is French, Irish German and Cherokee. His great-grandmother grew up in Kentucky as a Cherokee Native American.

Depp is a name with French origins. The Depp family immigrated to the United States and settled in Virginia in the 1700s as colonists.

Johnny Depp’s Creole background is accountable for his striking features.

Life

As a teen, Johnny Depp dropped out of high school to pursue his rock star dream. Before marrying his first wife, he was involved in self destructive behaviors such as self harm, vandalism and narcotics abuse. Once he was married, however, he got an office job and focused on supporting the two.

A trip to Los Angeles, California turned his attention from his childhood goals to pursue a career in acting. An introduction to Nicholas Cage by his former wife led to a major role in A Nightmare on Elm Street in 1984. He became a teen idol after starring in the television show 21 Jump Street in the 1987. As a result of this popularity and negative feelings of becoming a ‘product,’ Depp vowed to only accept roles he felt were right.

In 1990, Johnny’s fruitful partnership with Tim Burton began in the form of the movie Edward Scissorhands. With the film’s release, his popularity continued to grow and he landed more roles. Because Depp only accepted roles that intrigued him, he became known for playing different and lonely characters.

In 2003, Johnny Depp’s popularity sky rocketed with the release of Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. His charming portrayal of the iconic Jack Sparrow led to new doors and a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Actor.

Collaborations between Johnny Depp and Tim Burton continued on in the form of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. His role as Sweeney Todd led to a Golden Globe Award.

Johnny Depp’s numerous appearances in movies as misunderstood, outlandish or wallflower characters continued in Burton’s Alice and Wonderland and Rango.

Achievements

Johnny Depp has been nominated for a number of awards for his roles in both film and television. While winning a variety of awards for his acting in television, his greatest achievements are the Golden Globe Award for Sweeney Todd: Demon Barber of Fleet Street, and the Screen Actors Guild award for Best Actor for Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.

He won the People’s Choice Award for Choice Animated Voice for his role in Rango. In addition, he won Teen Choice Awards for Best Action Actor for The Tourist, Best Voice Actor for Rango, Best Villain for Sweeney Todd: Demon Barber for Fleet Street, Best Action Adventure Actor for Piratesof the Caribbean: At World’s End and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, Best Comedy Actor for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Best Fight forPirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl and Best Liar for Piratesof the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.

And, of course, Johnny Depp was declared Sexiest Man Alive by People Magazine in 2003 and 2009.

Inspiration

Johnny Depp is fascinated by people and artistically playing with their character. His role, Willy Wonka from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, was inspired by children’s show hosts and how they spoke to kids. He saw the character Jack Sparrow as the rock and roll star of the 18th Century, citing Keith Richards in particular as inspiration.

The cartoon character Pepe Le Pew also inspired his idea of Jack because Pepe thinks he’s charming and suave when, in reality, he’s just a skunk. Just like Jack, Pepe refuses to accept a truth he doesn’t want to believe in.

To date, Johnny Depp and Tim Burton have worked on seven films together. Edward Scissorhands, Ed Wood, Sleepy Hollow, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Corpse Bride, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street and Alice in Wonderland. Burton’s films and characters kept Depp motivated and interested in acting, while he himself was a strong source of support.

Interesting Facts

The success of Piratesof the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl is largely credited by many to Johnny Depp’s portrayal of the suave Jack Sparrow.

Due to his childhood dream of becoming a rock and role star, Johnny Depp is a talented guitar player. He has played on the soundtracks of Chocolate, Once Upon a Time in Mexico and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.

Depp owns a home in Paris, a home in Los Angeles and an island in the Bahamas.

Johnny has thirteen tattoos, all holding personal meaning to him. Two of them are of his children.

He’s the godfather of Tim Burton’s son.

He considers himself to be a romantic and has watched Wuthering Heights at least ten times.

Johnny has two children, a daughter named Lily-Rose and a son named John, nicknamed Jack.

Since he dislikes the social aspects of Hollywood, Johnny Depp purposefully distances himself from it. Since he’s widely popular, however, it’s impossible to completely divert unwanted media attention. Despite this, he manages to keep any negativity from affecting him. He draws strength from his family and can never be apart from his kids. He tries to bring them on set as often as possible and can’t stand to be separated for long.